Page 120 of Cougar

He pulls open the back door and gestures to the toddler in his back seat. “This is Zoe.” My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “She’s Logan’s.”

I push past him and take Zoe from her car seat. “Hi, Zoe,” I coo, hugging her close to my chest.

“Tack!” Zoe points her tiny index finger and reaches for Zach. He takes her and she cuddles into his chest with her head on his shoulder.

“Her bag is on my front seat. Would you mind grabbing it?”

I reach in and grab Zoe’s little suitcase, then lead the way inside. “Is she hungry?”

“I have no idea. Her mom’s friend Tina just dropped her off at my house less than twenty minutes ago. She said there’s a list of her favorite foods in her bag.”

“Where’s her mom?” I open Zoe’s bag, pulling out an envelope.

“Jail.”

Eyes wide, mouth agape, I whisper, “For what?”

Bass comes into the kitchen from the garage, stopping short when he sees Zach sitting at the counter with Zoe in his arms. “Something you need to tell me, Romeo?”

“She’s Logan’s,” I tell him with a laugh. “Her mom is in j-a-i-l.”

“Logan’s not answering his phone. It’s midterms. I have them today, too, crap!” Zach exclaims.

“I can watch her if you think she’ll be okay staying with me. I don’t want to confuse her.”

“She’s cute,” Bass says, then narrows his eyes. “Don’t get any ideas.”

Zach chuckles. “That’s not happening for at least ten years.”

Bass grins. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

The garage door slams and Jay storms into the kitchen. “What the hell, Z? I’ve been freaking out. You haven’t been answering your ph—” She comes to a halt when she notices the toddler in his arms. An expression I can’t quite pinpoint crosses her features, but it’s gone just as quickly. She quirks a brow and says, “Is this where you tell me you knocked up some—”

“Dial down the crazy, babe. She’s Logan’s.”

“Oh thank God.” She exhales in relief and slaps a hand over her heart. “I’m way too young to be a stepmom.”

Zach throws his head back and laughs. I just smile and shake my head.

* * *

“Honey, I’m home,” Liam singsongs as he walks into the great room with Cam right behind him. “What’s all this?” he asks, gesturing to the piles of toys and clothes.

“It’s for Zoe,” I tell him, then narrow my eyes at Cam, before Liam interrupts.

“Who’s Zoe?”

“She’s Logan’s daughter,” I explain.

Liam’s brows shoot to his hairline, and he looks over at Cam. “You didn’t tell me Logan had a kid.”

I level Cam with a stare. “You didn’t tell me either.”

“Not my story to tell,” Cam replies with a shrug.

Liam turns his attention back to me with a slight shake of his head. “So when do we fly out to New York?”

“Tomorrow night.” We usually fly out the day before Christmas, but since Zach and Cam are both coming along, we’re flying out tomorrow evening after Christmas dinner.

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